For those involved in the operation of a small- or medium-sized business (SMB), it can be tempting to avoid or delay documentation of your company’s IT security policies. However, brushing off the responsibility of creating a written information security policy can be a costly mistake. If the ever-evolving threat of cyber crime is not sufficient motivation, expanding government and industry regulations are increasingly likely to require action.
Creating an Effective Written Information Security Policy
Whatever kind of business you are in, there are undoubtedly ample reasons to document your IT security policies. Some industries—like law and medicine—require practitioners to exercise reasonable care in protecting the private personal information of clients and customers.
Even if you don’t work in a field with industry guidelines or requirements like these, as states and other government entities implement privacy legislation, it is increasingly likely that your business will be subject to some form of regulation and potential consequences in the event of an IT security incident. As the number and impacts of cyber security incidents and breaches continue to rise, it is more important than ever that business leaders understand the types of security policies that need to be in place.
Why Your Business Needs a Written Information Security Policy
IT problems are not unique to small businesses, but SMBs have increasingly become a popular target for cyber hackers. Cyber criminals know that smaller companies have less time, money, and resources to protect themselves. For many small businesses, the consequences of IT security breaches ultimately result in business failure. Developing and following a deliberate and appropriate cyber security policy can help prevent this kind of incident and improve your company’s chances of recovery if an incident does occur.
The process of evaluating the potential threats and IT problems in companies and then developing IT security policies accordingly is beneficial in disaster prevention and recovery. Documentation of your cyber security policy and careful adherence to outlined procedures ensure regulatory compliance and serve as proof that reasonable care was taken to protect private information.
What Types of Security Policies Need to Be Documented?
Based on your business structure, size, and the types of data you store and handle, there are probably several types of security policies that need to be included in your written plan. The types of security policies in a master cyber security policy might include the following:
- Acceptable use policies;
- Access and permissions policies;
- Bring your own device (BYOD) and bring your own application (BYOA) policies and procedures;
- Data classification policies;
- Data retention and disposal policies;
- Device management and physical security policies;
- Disaster response and data recovery policies and procedures;
- Email policies;
- Employee cyber security training policies;
- Encryption policies;
- Password policies and guidelines;
- Third-party vendor policies and procedures; and
- Virus protection and firewall policies.
Helpful Steps in the Documentation of a Cyber Security Policy
Businesses can mitigate IT problems and the resulting damages by appropriate cyber security planning. These steps should help SMBs get started:
- Identify the necessary elements of your cyber security policy.
- Identify potential and likely threats in those areas.
- Evaluate current policies, if any.
- Revise, update, and draft IT security policies as needed to address items one and two.
- Include employee training plans, procedures, and general timelines.
- Outline the appropriate disciplinary actions for employee breaches of your cyber security policy.
- Include processes, actions, and responsible parties for disaster recovery, response, and notification.
- Review and reevaluate policies regularly and when major business changes occur.
Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all solution for creating and managing IT security policies. Your best written information security policy will result from a thorough audit of your security risks and needs by a qualified specialist. In many cases, it is also wise to consult with legal counsel regarding the industry and governmental regulations that apply to your business.